Devcon has at all times been a residing reflection of Ethereum’s progress, challenges, and neighborhood ambitions. It showcases probably the most urgent matters, the most recent improvements, and the individuals constructing the way forward for decentralized expertise. As Ethereum grows, so too does Devcon.
Two years in the past, proper earlier than Devcon VI in Bogotá, the Merge took Ethereum’s consensus from proof of labor to proof of stake. Devcon VI centered not solely on the achievement of this milestone, but in addition on the following improvements: early Layer-2 improvement, the introduction of Account Abstraction (AA), and the rise of zero data proofs (ZKPs) as an growth of Ethereum.
Quick ahead to immediately, Devcon SEA celebrated the ecosystem’s readiness to tackle the following huge challenges. The content material demonstrated how far Ethereum has come, how Ethereum’s L1 and L2s have superior, how UX is bettering, and the way second-generation cryptographic primitives are enabling new kinds of functions. The tone has shifted from addressing foundational challenges to leveraging Ethereum for real-world affect.
On this weblog publish, we’ll discover how Ethereum has grown since Devcon VI, what the important thing outcomes of Devcon SEA are, which challenges stay, and how one can contribute in order that we will have a good time the following chapter of Ethereum once we meet for Devcon once more.
Trying again to Devcon VI: How far we now have come
Setting the stage, let’s replicate on the place we have been simply two years in the past: Devcon VI was held in Bogotá, Colombia, in October 2022. It introduced the Ethereum neighborhood collectively to deal with key technical and governance challenges. On the time, the Merge had simply occurred, and the occasion mirrored the celebration of this transformative milestone and centered on rising revolutionary applied sciences.
Devcon VI launched main themes for the primary time, and phrases that many hadn’t been accustomed to again then:
Zero Data Proofs have been launched to a lot of the Ethereum ecosystem. They have been simply turning into sensible and folks began to grasp their capabilities. There was no point out but of different cryptographic primitives like Absolutely Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) or Multi-Social gathering Computation (MPC).Account Abstraction was new and simply introduced. Most individuals hadn’t heard of EIP-4337, which hadn’t been carried out at the moment.The Layer 2 ecosystem was in its early levels with only some distinguished L2s like Arbitrum and Optimism, and the L2-centric roadmap was kicked off.Staking infrastructure was nascent and there have been nonetheless uncertainties, with staking withdrawals not but enabled.Censorship resistance, whereas an previous subject, was on everybody’s thoughts with discussions round OFAC compliance and Twister Money sanctions
Devcon SEA: Ethereum’s infrastructure is prepared, now it’s time for affect
Devcon SEA was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November of 2024. Attendance doubled in comparison with Devcon VI (12,500 vs 6,000 attendees), demonstrating Ethereum’s progress and neighborhood energy. One main objective of Devcon SEA was to convey all the Ethereum ecosystem collectively in a single place, foster collaboration, and cross-pollination, and realign the neighborhood to enhance Ethereum for actual use instances and affect on the world.
Since Devcon VI, the continued use of PoS plus different upgrades like Shanghai and Shapella have lowered power use, fuel charges, and improved UX. The L2 panorama has expanded, with whole worth locked in Ethereum L2 networks surpassing 51.5billion,a20551.5 billion, a 205% improve from 16.6 billion in November 2023. Ethereum’s integration of ZKPs has superior, and we now see extra real-world use instances, with DeFi and stablecoins maturing, and gaming, digital id, quadratic funding, and prediction markets rising.
However over the previous two years, the Ethereum neighborhood has additionally debated its path and priorities. Whereas Layer 2s are key for scaling, the rise of latest L2s launched various subcultures, sparking discussions about easy methods to preserve unity. Many referred to as for a return to Ethereum’s cypherpunk roots, specializing in privateness, decentralization, and credible neutrality – values that some felt have been overshadowed by viewing Ethereum as a product reasonably than a protocol. There was a shared urgency to realign on a unified function.
Devcon SEA aimed to deal with these debates by inviting one of the best within the ecosystem to share their insights on probably the most related matters. Over 300 hours of content material from ecosystem specialists, 17 Group Hubs organized by the neighborhood, 70 Influence Areas, and hundreds of conversations in between periods have been held within the lengthy hallways.
Devcon SEA sparked conversations about probably the most urgent challenges for Ethereum, controversies in addition to achievements, and a few huge bulletins have been made too. Justin Drake outlined his imaginative and prescient of a Beam Chain, and the Argot Collective, which is a brand new group embodying lots of our shared values of Ethereum, launched itself.
Learn on to find the key outcomes of Devcon SEA, and which talks you must watch to rise up to hurry if you wish to contribute to the remaining challenges throughout the respective matters.
Ethereum has scaled and Layer 2s are web optimistic for Ethereum
Proto-danksharding, EIP-4844, blobs, and the roll-up centric roadmap – The scaling options highlighted at Devcon SEA confirmed how far Ethereum has come. Layer 2s, that are scaling Ethereum, see actual adoption. Each day consumer exercise has exploded in dimension, and the full worth locked is rising steadily. We have now low charges, and you may ship 1, 100, or 1 million {dollars} for lower than a cent. All L2s are and can be secured by the Ethereum L1 Mainnet, which is sturdy and safe with over 1 million validators and has by no means gone down since its launch in 2015.
There’s nonetheless a lot to do to understand the rollup-centric roadmap, scale back fragmentation, and improve safety. Watch the under talks to determine easy methods to contribute to fixing these challenges for Ethereum’s subsequent chapter:
Ethereum is cypherpunk
Devcon SEA reminded us why we’re right here, and why we’re constructing a decentralized future, specializing in values like credible neutrality, privateness, censorship resistance, open entry, and a cooperative mindset. Devcon SEA had a full programming monitor devoted to this philosophy, and the Hacktivism Hub, organized by the neighborhood.
Talks to look at to maintain up with the cypherpunk manifesto:
Aside from cypherpunk values, philosophy and ethos performed an enormous function at Devcon SEA. With Aya Miyaguchi, the chief director of the Ethereum Basis, increasing on the philosophy of subtraction together with her speak “Redefining boundaries within the infinite backyard,” explaining how the Ethereum Basis works, and a full programming day devoted to d/acc (defensive acceleration), the philosophy first launched by Vitalik Buterin, specializing in Ethereum as a defensive expertise, accompanied by talks about biodefense, decentralized AI, neurotech, and public epistemics.
UX is preparing for mass adoption
ERC 4337, ERC 7683, EIP 7702, ERC 3668 are just some examples of how Ethereum is turning into prepared for customers. Fuel charges are low, UX is bettering, and Devcon SEA made us excited for Ethereum feeling like one chain once more. The neighborhood organized the Account Abstraction and Adoption Hubs and plenty of talks have been centered on making Ethereum approachable to mainstream audiences.
Social restoration is simply the beginning. Watch the under talks to be taught how one can contribute to bettering Ethereum’s UX, particularly for those who’re creating a rollup or a pockets, to get on pace with current developments in UX and Account Abstraction:
The time for real-world functions is now
Ethereum is for customers, and the app ecosystem has by no means been stronger than immediately, although nonetheless, we’re simply tapping into Ethereum’s potentialities for real-world functions. Ethereum is made for a lot of issues, and it’s a multi-purpose platform.
Ethereum is dwelling to its most mature use instances: DeFi and stablecoins. DeFi is monetary providers and instruments constructed on Ethereum that everybody on the earth has entry to and that give individuals larger management over their cash. Ethereum has lots of of groups engaged on DeFi protocols. Stablecoins, too, give each human the liberty to transact and ship worth wherever on the earth.
Ethereum can be the place new use instances occur and new issues are being invented, it’s “the place concepts enter manufacturing” (Josh Stark). We have now decentralized social platforms, on-chain video games, digital id with ENS, Anon Adhaar, and zk passport, real-world infrastructure, quadratic funding with Gitcoin and clr.fund, and prediction markets like Polymarket.
In case you have been questioning what are the apps which are presently being constructed on Ethereum, or for those who want inspiration to construct extra dapps, listed here are some talks to look at:
Economics of Ethereum and ETH
The discussions at Devcon SEA reaffirmed the non-speculative worth of Ethereum and ETH within the digital financial system, with its sound financial ideas, sturdy incentives and alignment with long-term targets for decentralized ecosystems.
Talks to look at:
Second-generation cryptography permits new kinds of functions
Devcon SEA featured hundreds of cryptographic plushy frogs, distributed by the 0xPARC crew across the Frogcrypto Hub. Attendees collected frogs, and each time they scanned the QR code, they obtained a provable object information (POD). Every Devcon ticket was a POD within Zupass, an software that allows customers to securely retailer and handle Proof-Carrying Information (PCD). These cryptographic ideas have been theoretical for a few years and are lastly turning into doable, and mixed with Ethereum, we are actually in a position to construct functions that have been by no means doable earlier than. Whereas at Devcon VI solely ZKPs have been on everybody’s lips, as of very current a brand new era of cryptographic primitives like FHE and MPC are getting used to create decentralized, privacy-preserving computation and interoperability, unlocking revolutionary and complicated use instances for Ethereum-based shopper functions.
We’re solely now realizing how a lot is feasible with second-generation cryptographic primitives and potentialities are extending our creativeness. We want extra individuals constructing and mixing ZKPs, second-gen crypto and Ethereum. If you wish to do this, watch:
Ethereum is frontier tech
Devcon SEA was additionally a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, the place Ethereum was mentioned alongside different frontier applied sciences and within the context of the way forward for our society.
These periods highlighted Ethereum’s capability to encourage and combine with broader technological and societal challenges:
The Ethereum neighborhood is powerful and international
The Ethereum neighborhood is just not solely rising, it’s increasing globally: At Devcon SEA, we welcomed 12,500 attendees with 60% experiencing their first-ever Devcon. Members represented 135 international locations, making this probably the most international and various Devcon thus far.
The Ethereum neighborhood is just not solely various in nationalities and ethnicities – the pursuits, identities, and focus areas are manifold with builders, protocol researchers, stakers, degens, regens, activists, artists, educators, and plenty of extra being a part of the Ethereum neighborhood.
Devcon SEA featured 17 Group Hubs, from the DeSci Hub, International Majority Hub, and Onchain Creators Hub, to the Governance Geeks Hub, these have been manifestations of the variety and methods to become involved within the Ethereum neighborhood. The Group Gardeners Hub centered on Ethereum neighborhood builders from all world wide. In 2024, 73 native Ethereum occasions in 44 international locations have been organized across the globe. Our neighborhood is decentralized and international, as Ethereum itself.
Now could be your likelihood to form the way forward for Ethereum forward to Devcon 8
Devcon SEA was not only a snapshot of the place Ethereum stands immediately, it provides a imaginative and prescient of the place it may go tomorrow. Devcon SEA confirmed how Ethereum is bringing concepts into motion, and each participant carries the teachings discovered at Devcon to proceed spreading the phrase and advancing Ethereum’s mission. And who is aware of, the following individual to affect the way forward for Ethereum could have first discovered about it at Devcon SEA.
Devcon SEA images and sources
Discover images from Devcon SEA right here.You possibly can search and watch all talks within the Devcon Passport app.DEVAi is obtainable to reply all Devcon-related questions, and can quickly have entry to all speak transcripts. You possibly can already get summaries of all talks within the Passport app.Need to share extra insights about Devcon talks? Go to the Devcon Collab Portal.
What’s subsequent?
Tl;dr:
Devconnect 2025Devcon 2026
Devconnect is the opposite, fully totally different occasion that the Ethereum Basis organizes. Whereas Devcon is the massive occasion that brings everybody collectively in a single venue, Devconnect is extra decentralized. Devconnect includes many alternative occasions, centered on totally different Ethereum matters, organized by specialists in these fields. Devconnect is the time to go deep into the subject you’re most accustomed to or wish to develop into an knowledgeable in, and be a part of day-long occasions centered on that area.
The place will Devconnect 2025 and Devcon 8 happen? You have to to attend just a bit bit longer to search out that out, and within the meantime, you possibly can create your proposal for Devcon, Devconnect, or different Ethereum occasions to happen in your metropolis.
Till subsequent time, xoxo
Deva the Devcon Unicorn & the Devcon crew
